Running-gear.



RUNNING GEAR.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

P. D.- LINGBNBELTBR .an w. E. GUTTS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29, 1908.

UNTED STATES PATLEN OFQCE.

FRANK D. LINGENFELTER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, AND WILLIAME. CUTTS. Oi"WYNCOTE,

` 1 WYOMING.

RUNNNG-GEAB.

Application filed February 29, 1908.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Serial No. 418.576.

To all wiz/m it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK D. LrNGnN- FELTRE and WILLIAM E. CU'rTs,citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Syracuse andl/Vincote, in the counties of Onondaga and Laramie, States of New Yorkand Vtlyoming, have invented a new and useful Runningtear, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to running gear for vehicles, and has for itsobject to provide an improved means for connecting the fifth wheel withthe reach, whereby a flexible connection shall be established which willenable the front or steering axle to be rocked or tilted while passingover rough roads without straining the parts of the running gear.

Another object of this inventionis to do away with bolts, that is, in sofar as employing the latter for retaining the various parts in workingposition.

lt is well known that in most devices of this kind, draw-bolts are usedfor connecting the fifth wheel with the axle and reaches. Thisconstruction has many disadvantages, chief among which is that as theparts are worn through use and the connections become loose, rattlingresults. Various attempts have been made to overcome this defect, and inmost of the appliances now in use the connections are made rigid. Thedisadvantage of this construction is that the parts will break whenpassing over rough ground. if no allowance is made for play, and whensuch allowance is made the parts will rattle. The present invention aimsto remedy this defect by employing a swivel connection between the rearand front axles, thereby permitting the axles to rock on the connectionwhen passing over uneven roads and instead of using the usual draw boltsfor connecting the parts, thimbles are employed, the latter forming atight but yielding connection. Thus the danger of breakdown caused bybolts working loose is avoided since the thirnbles are preferably formedintegral with their respective parts, whereby the wear on the parts maybe taken up, thus positively preventing rattling.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims, it being undeu stood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention.

in the accompanying drawings z--Figuro 1 is a perspective view showingthe device attached to the front axle of a wagon and the connection withthe front end of the reach bar. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewof Fig. 1: Fig. 3 is a view of the collar used for taking up the wear ofthe spindle.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicatecorrespondingparts throughout faces provided with recesses T, whichforni 8O seats for the axle 1. Centrally disposed ou the plate 5 is asocket 9 which registers with the lug 4 on thc lower plate 2. The fifthwheel 8 in the present instance is circular member, the lower face ofwhich is flat and bears on the upper faces of the segments 6, and isprovided with a diametrically cross bar 10, the ends of which aresecured in recesses`11 on the upper face of the fifth wheel which formseats for the head block 12 of the 90 vehicle. Extending at right anglesto the cross bar 10 is a radial bar 13 which serves to strengthen thefifth wheel, and on its lower face a thimble 14 adapted to enter thesocket 9. The latter is connected to the lug e by means of a longthimble or sleeve 15 having a shoulder formed on the lower end whichrests on the upper face of the lug 4L, the reduced end projectingthrough the perforation in the lug and forming a shaft over which fitsone end of a brace 16, the opposite end of which is secured to a thimble17 formed on the lower face of the wheel 8, and diametrically oppositethe socket 9 and thimble 14. l/Vith this construction it is obvious thatthe connection between the Ywheel and axle is made by the thimbles, thefunction of the bolt 18, extending from the upper face of the radial barthrough the thimble 11i and sleeve 15, being merely to tighten thejoints in the A similar plate 5, 75

socket 9 and keep the lower end of the brace 16 in close contact withthe shoulder of the thimble 15. The advantages thus gained positivelyprevent rattling, since there is absolutely no pulling on the draw-bolt18 and bolt 19. In fact, if either of these bolts work lloose and werelost, it would not interiere with the progress of the vehicle.

Formed integral with, or otherwise secured to the radial bar 13, is abar or member 20 extending rearwardly and terminating directly behindthe circle of the 'lith wheel in a spindle 21 provided at its outer endwith an annular Vilange or head 22. The reach, which in F ig. 1 has beenshown as composed of forwardly converging bars 23, supports at its'liront end 24 two rlanged side members 25 engaging the reach members 23with which they are connected by screws or bolts, whereby the reachmembers are Yfirmly secured in proper position with relation to eachother. The casting 211 includes a box or bearing, the lower plate ofwhich is provided with a central groove 26 and the upper plate with asimilar groove 27, forming a bearing for the spindle 21, the head 22 ofwhich abuts on the head of the bearing box. Disposed bctween the platesof the bearing box, and on either side of the grooves, is packing, thusrendering it possible at all times to take up any wear on the spindle 21caused by rocking, the member 28 having on one end depending flanges,and provided with an elongated slot 29 for the reception of the bolt 19to secure it to the wheel 8. The opposite end of this member is adaptedto overlie the spindle and contact with the'i'orward endy of the bearingbox. The function of this member or collar, bearing as it does at alltimes on the end of the box, is to take up the wear of the spindle head22.

The advantages of the swivel construction are readily seen when comparedwith most devices of this kind, where the reach is con nected to theforward axle. With the swivel the connections can be adjusted to givethe parts ample play when under strain, and at the same time preventrattling.

What is claimed is 1 A running gear embodying a iifth Wheel providedwith a radial bar terminating in a spindle projecting beyond theperiphery of said litth wheel, reach bars carrying a box provided with alongitudinal groove for the reception of the spindle, and an adjustingcollar embracing said spindle and interposed betweensaid ifth wheel andone end oi' said box.

2. A running gear embodying reach bars, having at one end a box providedWith a longitudinal groove, a fifth wheel, a spindle secured to said'fifth wheel, having a portion projecting 1oeyond the periphery thereofand adapted to enter said grooved box, and an adjusting member carriedby said fifth wheel having a circular portion adapted to embrace saidspindle and disposed between said fifth wheel and one end or' said box.

3. A running gear iol-.vehicles embodying an axle member having platessecured to the upper and lower faces thereof, lugs having aliningopenings formed on said plates, a iiith wheel having a radial bar withthimbles on the lower face and at the opposed ends thereof, one of saidthimbles adapted to enter the opening in the lug on the upper plate 5 asleeve connecting said thimble with the lower of said lugs and a strutbar connecting the other thimble of the radial bar with the sleeve.

in testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have heretoallixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK D. LINGENFELTER. VVlLLlAh/l E. CUTTS. TWitnesses EMIR G. CAswnLL,CLARRON M. THOMAS.

